Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



J F O CONNOR FRICTION SHOCK xBsoRING MECHANISM Filed oct. 17. 1921 Ja/Lrz/J/L/wz Sept. 4, .1923.

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Patented sept.' 4, 1923. i

Joan oioonnoit, omesso, rnrinors, Assienoia; TowrLLiAivr Hfivrinnn, or

- l asienta' Y-sauneas,50am@ momma;

Appiictinru'ed,october 17, 1921: serial no. tosses@ To all @from t may] concern.' 1 l Be it known that L JOHN F. OCoNNo'R, apcitizen of the United States, residing at Illinois, have invented a certain new Vand useful Improvement in riction' Shook# rrb'sorb'ing Mechanisms, of which the' following is afull, clear, concise, and enact de# scription, reference being had to' theY accom"- panyifng drawings,` forming a part of this specification;` Y' k- This invention relates' to improvements iI1`,frictio1"iv shock absorbing mechanisms.

One object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing niet'zha'nismr esp'eci'- ally adapted for railway draft riggings and wherein` are obtained high-capacity,jlarge areay of friction surfaces and a compact arial'igenien't. i

Mer@ Specifically, uit teje@ :Off my la. venti-on is to provide an arrangement-of thel harafc'ter` indicated in the'preceding' paragraph vs'zh'erein the vspring `resistance isdisL posed within or between the friction-shoes and wedges to' the end that 'the length of the friction-shoes may be increased and, in fact,l

madefsubstantially commensurate' with the length of the spring resistance.

Other objects of the invention will more cljearly appear' from' the description and claims hereinafter following. y

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a horizontal longitudinal sectional View of a portionof a railway draft rigging showing my improvements in ,connection therewith. F ig'. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional View correspondingv entstand-ally to' the une 2 2 of Fig. o 1. Figs. 3 and ,tare enlarged transverse vertical sectional views of the" shock absorbing mechanism' proper corresponding" to the sectionv lines 34-3 and 1 -4:, respectively, of Fig. l'. And Figs. 5', 6, and 7 are detail perspectives of one ofthe friction-shoes,` one of the spring' cage` followers, and one of the wedge elements, respectively.

In said drawing-s, 104-10 vdenote channel y draft sills of a railway car to the inner faces of which are secured front stopvlugs 11-11 and rear stop lugs 12--12. Agportionof a drawbarV is indicated at 1'3,`the same being operatively associated withgthe shock absorbinginechanisin proper by a hooded cast yoke 14 and coupler key v115. The Vshock absorbing mechanism proper, the front follower 16 and-theyoke are spported in oper- Y Chicago, in the county 'of Cook and State of The improved shock absorbing mechanism proper, j as shown, comprises, broadly,` a friction shell A; a plurality of friction-shoes 54 a pair of wedge elements C; a pair of combined spring followers and cages -TD tandem arranged springs E413; anti-'friction rollers F-F .interposed between the wedge elements and the friction`I Shoes, a retainer key Gr;` plates lle-H beV tween the we'dge'eleinents; a retainer-bolt J and keys K-l The shell rl is preferably in the form of a casting of rectangular hollow box-like form having top and bottom horizontal walls l8-,18, side' walls`l9-l9 and back follower wall ,20. l*The side walls 19 prev-ide longitudinally extending friction surfacesV Els-251 on the inner side thereof.` Y

vThe Vfriction-shoesl B arel four "in number arranged in opposed pairs and with the pairs in' tandem formation. Eachshoe P isfformed on the outer side with a flat friction surface 22 cooperable with a corresponding shell vfriction surface 21. its inner side, each shoe B is formed with a plurality kof, preferably three, inclined wedge-roller-seats 2'3-23 spacedk uniformly lengthwise of the shoe. The shoes B are furtl'ierinore recessed on their top and bottorn edgesas indicated at 24V-24 in Fig. to accommodate thel laterally extended ends of .theykeys K, as indicated by dotted outlines of ,the` keys in@ Fig. 5. In thisv connection, it will be noted that the length of the re-j cesses 24 is` slightly in excess of the width of the keysv K so asl to compensate for wear as thefshoes gradually work outwardlyv of the shell'. In normal position of the parts, that is, in full release, the keys K engage the outermost shoulders defined by the recesses 24, as indicated in Fig. l. As heretofore described, the shoes B are of like construction'A except thatv there is a slight difference in the location of the recesses Q/tas between the'. front and rear pairs, the recessesin vthe rearpair of shoes-Bibeing located somewhatrnearer the middle than in' thecaseof the 26 26 on the outer side facing the slices. lVheii three wedge roller seats 23 are used on each shoe B, there will he sin corresponding wedge-rollersseats 26 on each element C. The outer ends oi the wedge elements C project forwardly or outwardly beyond the ends of the outer pair of shoes B and are in engageinent with the vliront follower 16. To prevent the wedge elements C from moving inwardly toward each other and to maintain them always in the proper spaced relation, the two plates H are employed, one at the top and the other at the bottom of the shell A, as shown best in'llig. 3. Said plates H act as spacers 'for the wedge-elements C, as will be understood and are adapted to shift lengthwise within the shell A. Said plates H are recessed near their central portions, as indicated at 27 in Fig. 4 where the saine pass by the retainer plate G'. The upper edges or the wedge elements C are recessed or cnt away as indicated at 28-28 to reely accoininodate the keys K, the lengths ot said recesses 28 being greater than the width of the keys and preventing the wedge elements C iroin ever coming into shouldered engage ment with said keys. From the preceding description, it" will be seen that the two wedge elements C, together with the plates H 'form what may be termed a hollow-wedgesystein and within which are contained the springs E in cages D. Y

The springs E, as shown, are of the usual coil .toi-in each consisting of an outer heavy coil and an inner lighter coil. rlhe springs E are arranged in tandem formation, the innermost spring bearing at its rear end against the wall 2() ot the shell A and the orw `rd spring E bearing at its rear end against the stationary retainer or abutment l-ey or plate G, the latter being inserted vertically thru suitable openings in the top and bottom walls of the shell A and held against longitudinal movement with respect to the shell. Y

The combined spring followers and cages D are oit substantially like construction, each having top and bottom parallel walls 29 side walls {SO-30 and liront walls 3l. rlhe iti-ont walls 8l provide bearings for the forward ends ot the springs E as clearly shown in iig. l. rthe interiors oli the members D are preferably made cylindrical as best indicated in Fig. 3 to thereby center the springs E. The Yl'ront walls 3l ot the members D are apertured as indicated at 32 to accommodate the retainer bolt .l and, in the case ot the front member D, the wall is countersnnk as indicated at 3l to provide a pocket tor the accommodation of the nut of the retainer bolt cl; Said retainer bolt .l passes through a suitable opening in the stationary plate or key G and it will also be noted that the bolt J serves to maintain the plate G in proper vertical position.

rEhe top andbottoin walls 9.9 of the members D are grooved or recessed as'iiidicated at 83%33 to receive the cross keys K. rlhe width oir the recesses corresponds to the width oi'f'thelreys l so that relative inovement between the licys li and the members D in a direction lengthwise ot the shell A is prevented. rlhe sides of the n'icnibers D are partially cut away at the top and bottom as indicated at Bel so as to reduce the area ot contact between the sides ot said members D and the wedgeclenients C while at the saine time leaving a support `tor the central poi-tions o'tthe wedge elements C, to avoid their buckling, as will ba apparent iii'om an inspection oil ,F ig.

'lhe operation oit the mechanism is as 'follows, assuming an inward or l'iuling movement of the drawbar. ils the y drawbar moves inwardly thereby movin g the follower lt) therewith, the fi-essuie is applied to the wedge elements C. The latter act substantially in theinanner oi a solid, centrally dis'- posed wedge and iniinediately produce lateral pressure oii the shoes wedge roller seats 26 and 23 and the rollers l?. llhe shoes l) are thereby caused to travel inwardly oli' the shell but are under the resistaiice et the springs E, inasmuch as the inward movement ot the shoes B causes a corresponding inward or longitudinal movement or the upper andlower sets or keys l which. in turn causes a similar movement oi the spring cage follow D. ln this inan-' ner the resistance of the springs E is transferred directly to the shoes ll. ln release, on account oit the anti-friction rollers between the shoes B. and the wedge elements C, the latter substzntially instantaneously inove outwardly slightly with respect to the shoes, thereby reducing the spreading oi' wedging action and allowii g the springs to ex pand and ilorce all ot tl parts outwardly in a inanner similar to the action oi the welllinowii ll/Qiner gear.

Dy arranging'tl'sc parts as shown and de scribed, l ain enabled to employ two springs in tandem arrangement yand also to employ irictionshoes, the ei'lective length ot each ol 'which is substantially the saine as the tree height ot each spring. Stated in ani other manner, l am enabled to employ substantially the entire length ol' the friction shell surfaces tor active work, thus obtaining greater ifriction wearing areas than heretofore in a mechanism employing a wedge system between the shoes and all ot which elements are movable lengthwise i of' the shell. A Y

l have herein shown and described what l now consider the preferred manner el: carrying out the invention but the same is merely illustrative vand l contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

because oit the lllll having message I claim: l. In a friction shock absorbing `mechanism7 the combinationwithfa friction shell Vfriction surfaces; of wedge-friction-shoes cooperable with the shell friction surfaces and movable longitudinally thereof;wedge elements cooperab-le with Asaid shoes and movable longitudinally of the shell;a plurality of springs coinpressible in a direction lengthwiseV of tho shell and located between the shoes; and means fortransferring the resistance of all of said springs to the shoes.

3. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell having interior friction surfaces; of oppositely disposed wedge-friction-shoes cooperable with the shell friction surfaces; a hollow wedge systemV cooperable with said shoes; a spring within said hollow wedge system; and means for transferring the resistance of the spring to the shoes.

4. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell interior longitudinallyy arranged friction surfaces; of tandem arranged sets of friction-shoes cooperable with the shell friction surfaces; wedge elements cooperable with said shoes and disposed on t-lic inner side thereof; tandem arranged springs within the shell and located between the shoes; and means for transferring` the resistance of each spring to the corresponding set. of friction shoes.

In a friction shock absorbing mecha.- nism, the combination with a friction shell having interior longitudinally extending friction surfaces; of wedge-friction-shoes cooperablc with the shell friction surfaces; wedge elements cooperable with said shoes;

a coil spring within the shell 4located tween said shoes and` compressible Ain a dij rection lengthwise of the shell, the lengt-h.V

of said spring being substantially co-extensive with the length` of the shoes; and means for transferring the resistance of said spring f to the shoes. Y c p.

6. In afriction shock absorbing mechaiism.V the'combination with a friction shell Vhaving interior longitudinally;:extending friction surfaces; of-a plurality of wedgefriction-shocs arrangedv in tandemformation within the shellv andV cooperable with. the shell friction surfaces; wedging means coopcir-.ble` with said shoes; tandemarrangcd springs within the shell and between the shoes, said springs being compressible in a direction lengthwise of the shell and each spring being of a length substantially coextensive with the length of a friction-shoe;

and means for transferring the resistance of said springs tothe respective setsof slices.

7,. In a:friction shockabsorbing mechanisin the combination with a friction shell having interior longitudinally extending i friction surfaces; of tandem arranged friction-shoes within said shell cooperable with n the surfaces thereof, said shoes being disposed on opposite sides of the center of the shell; a single wedge element cooperab'le with each tandem arranged Vset of shoes on one side of the shell; spring means disposed within the shell and located between the shoes; and means lfor transferring` the resistance of said spring means to the shoes.y

8. In aV friction shock absorbing mee-lianism; the combination with a friction shell having interior longitudinally extending friction surfaces; of a pair kof oppositely disposed friction shoes on the interior of the 4. shell and cooperablewith the friction surfaces thereof; a pair of wedge elements; one on the inner side of each friction-shoe; means interposed between said wedge elements arranged to prevent relative approach thereof transversely of the shell; a springv resistance within the shell located between said wedge elements; and means for transr-ferring the resistance of the spring resistance to said shoes.A

9. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell having interior longitudinally extending friction surfaces; of a pair of oppositely disposed wedge-friction-shoes on the interior of the shell cooperable with the friction surfaces of the latter; wedge elements cooperable with the shoes; a longitudinally arranged spring within the shell located between the shoes; a combined follower-cage associated with said spring; and transversely extending keys betweenA said follower cage and the shoes, said keys having shouldered engagement with the follower cage and the shoes.

10. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, they combination with a friction shell Yhaving interior vlongitudinally extending friction surfaces; of a pair of friction-shoes on each side of the'shell arranged in tandem formation; wedge elements cooperable with said shoes;ltandern arranged springs within the shell;'a combined follower cage associated Ywith each spring; and transversely extending keys between each spring cage and corresponding set of friction-shoes, said 'keys having shouldered engagement with the cages vand the shoes. I

V 1l. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism the combination with a friction shell.

having longitudinally extending friction surfaces on the inner faces` of the side walls thereof; of a pair of tandem arraneed wedge-frictionshoes cooperabie with the :triction surface of each side of the shell; vwedge elements .cooperable with said shoes and disposed on the inner sides thereof; tandem arranged springs between the Wede elements; an intermediate fixed abutment for the inner end of tho outer spring; and means for transferring the resista ce of said :springs to the respective sets of friction shoes.

l2. n a friction shock absorbing mechanisin the combination With a friction shell having side Walls the inner faces of which are provided with longitudinally extending friction surfaces; of a pair of tandem arranged wedge-friction-slioos cooperable with each of said shell friction surfaces; side wedge elcments located inwardly of' the shoes; antifriction rollers between said elements and the shoes; a fixed abutment intermediate the ends of said shell; tandem arranged springs; one of said springs abutting the rear end of the shell and the other spring bearing on said abutment; a. combined follower spring cage associated with the forward end of each spring; and transversely extending keys between said cages and the corresponding sets of friction-shoes, said keys having shouldered engagement with the cages and the shoes.

In a friction shock absorbing meehanisin; the combination With a friction shell having interior friction surfaces; of oppositely disposed Wedge-friction-shoes cos operable with said surfaces; longitudinally extending Wedge elements cooperable with said wedge-friction-shoes; and a spring arranged longitudinally Within the shell; the spring, shoes and `Wedge elements being so related that a transverse plane Would intersect all of them.

ln Witness that l claim the foregoing have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th day of Oct., 1921.

JOHN F. OCONNGR.

Witnesses: i

Gemini GAILiNG, ANN BAKER. 

